Your Mattress is dirty and you know it !
I know it sounds nuts, but do you clean your mattress? Chances are, almost everyone stops at the sheets. You pull them off at the weekend (or whenever your skin begins to break out; DO BETTER!) and slap on a fresh set. At that point, we give ourselves pats on the back and bonus hygiene points. So, you’ve changed your sheets? Is that really the end of it all? You know that mattress you got as a gift, 10 years ago, might probably need a shape up. No matter how clean your sheets, you’re probably laying on a lot of germs and bacteria.
The thing is, as you are getting busy on that mattress, why should you even clean your mattress? Here’s why;
You spend a third of your life sleeping. That means, on average, you spend 318 months of your life curled up with your mattress. And the state of your mattress directly influences the quality of your sleep. In 2015, studies revealed certain medical issues can be traced back to old and dirty mattresses.
Moreover, a runny nose, breathing problem and even eczema are some of the problems that could arise, either from mold accumulation or dust mite droppings on a dirty mattress. The quicker you clean mattress, the better for you!
That’s why we are sharing some quick mattress cleaning tips with you:
- Spot clean
First, use a mixture of two parts hydrogen peroxide, one-part baking soda, and one-part cleaning detergent (or even an enzyme cleaner) to target any stains. Dab on the mixture with a rag or by hand, but not a brush—the bristles might end up damaging the mattress fibers more than helping the situation.
When you’re satisfied, absorb as much of the liquid as possible with paper towels.
- Deodorize
Next up, put 10 drops of your favorite essential oil into a box of baking soda, and shake it until it’s well-mixed. Using a sieve, sift the whole box over your mattress (or as much as you need until it’s covered), rub it in slightly, and then let it sit for an hour.
This gives your mattress a chance to soak up any remaining moisture from the first step and absorb any odors.
- Vacuum
Lastly, use a vacuum fitted with the upholstery-cleaning attachment to clean up all that baking soda, paying special attention to those areas where you spot cleaned. You’ll want to dry them out as much as possible.
When you’re done, leave the mattress out for a couple of hours to continue to air out. And then, voila, your mattress will be (almost) as good as new.
While a good mattress protector will help keep all the bacteria and dust mites out, we’d still advise that for your health and better sleep, it’s best you clean your mattress as often as you can.
